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Well, I thought this day would be during her teenage years but my 8 year old forged my signature on her reading log. She forgot it at school yesterday and I went to sign it for tonights reading and saw it had been signed yesterday. She just learned cursive so she did a great attempt and what a smart kid to think of it so she would not get in trouble. I had to bit my tongue. She is a sweet kid who always does the right thing so I was laughing inside that she thought of this. My friend said it best, ” We’ll call this funny but wrong!” We had a little discussion that it is never okay to forge mommy’s name. She apologized and said she would not do it again. I pray not, yikes!

My oldest did not go to a preschool with the potty training policy. I also taught at that preschool and I had to clean up a number of messes. It is just the life of a mom and teacher.

I just read this article on a three year old who was potty trained but the schedule the school set for potty breaks threw this little girl off and she stared having accidents. The school suspended her for a month because she broke their potty training policy. The mom found a school with no potty training policy and she has not had an accident since. This is crazy. I had pressure to train my youngest because she could not go into a church class or preschool class without being trained. Fortunately she was easy but this is crazy. You have to be flexible with kids. Accidents should not be punished. You need grace. If a child was potty trained and all the sudden had accidents you need to find out why not automatically suspend them.

My oldest daughter loves the American Girl Magazine but was more interested in the animals than the dolls. However, I took my daughters along with a friend of mine and her daughters to the American Girl Bistro, and now they want one. It is cute. We did the tea time and craft for under $10 a person. The girls loved it. We each got our own tea pot, sweets, finger sandwiches, fruit and muffins. We had a fun day and even my three year old had a blast. She did not want to give the loaner doll back. Maybe Santa will bring them one. I definitely recommend this for moms, grandmas and daughters to do together. It is really girly and a lot of warm memories in the making!

My favorite mommy blogger in the world is Ohmommy. She wrote a fantastic post on sensitive children and I have to share it. My oldest daughter is similar to her son Jay and we used to say she was a drama queen. She used to cry at every little thing. Throw tantrums like no one else and hide behind my legs and cry at parties. As she has grown up, she does not cry as often. She has a lot of friends even though she is always labeled the quiet one. The thing I love about this post is she is not trying to break her son but help him to adjust. She is building character. Boys should be in touch with their feelings. I think our society is a little hesitant about that. It does not mean they should cry at every little thing or whine. My husband is a very passionate person but he does not always share his feelings or thoughts because teachers, family and friends shut him down when he would cry or share something. It is hard sometimes because I would love for him to share things with me. Each child is unique and quirky. I think we should embrace this instead of trying to fit each child into a mold. I know I have dealt with this with my own two daughters. Teachers pointing out all their quirks and flaws as if there is something wrong with them. My oldest daughter can be a drama queen but she can also be quiet and observant. She has been like this since she was a baby. She is the kid that always friends the new kid or the kid no one wants to be around. She is compassionate, sweet and funny. She loves to read and make art. Every year I get the same thing in conferences. Pookie is a delightful child but she is too quiet. Of course, if she was talkative that would not be acceptable either. Peanut is polar opposite of Pookie except in large class settings. The entire school year Peanut was labeled as something was wrong with her. The teacher missed out on an entire year of getting to know peanut because at the end of the year Peanut showed her true self. She tells jokes, she is articulate, she is smart and funny. She is also very loving and yet she was labeled because she was SO shy. They did not take into account she had never been around a large group of kids for four hours without me before. She also was the youngest in her class. Oh and she was 3!

My friend’s son is also a wonderful, compassionate, smart, and funny kid. This teacher missed out on a opportunity to get to know him because he cried too much at first. She did not take into account that he had never been away from mom before or maybe he had a little extra anxiety.

I am so tired of people putting our children into a box or mold or label because they are different. I worked with elementary children and preschoolers. Some had disabilities, some had autism and some were just different but I LOVED all of them!! If we were all made the same how boring would this world be? God delights in our quirks and differences!

Pastor Ken preached one of the best messages on Mom’s that I have ever heard. He surveyed his female friends and colleagues on motherhood. Some of the responses he got back were speaking right at me. Some of the comments he received back were: moms feeling a constant sense of comparison to other moms. As moms, we do not seem to know how to say no to others. We feel this pressure from society and ourselves that we have to be perfect and we are constantly comparing ourselves to that perfect mom. Putting God first is a challenge. Not defining myself as just a mom. I have every single one of these. This told me once again I am not alone.

In 1 Samuel 1 and 2, there are 12 things God wants us to know.

1. Mom’s story does not begin the day I was born.

As women we all have a story to tell before we had children. We have hopes, dreams and desires for our lives.

2. Following Godly principles; be the mom God created you to be without comparison.

We put so much pressure on our selves when we compare ourselves to others. We need to support one another instead of criticizing and comparing. God created us all to unique and have different giftings not to be the same. I may be great in some areas but lacking in others. This is where the support should come in.

3. In every story there will be hurt.

Hannah is not able to be a mom. This is so common today and we need to be sensitive to the needs of others but also being a mom has its own sense of burdens.

4. Ladies if you don’t realize it, men do not always know what to say.

He was speaking of Hannah’s husband asking why she was crying all the time and the priest not being very compassionate towards her during her time of prayer and sadness.

5. The craziness of motherhood will not be solved by leaving God out.

He was saying that we need to make time for God. God knows exactly what we need and we have to keep up with our spiritual life. I can attest to this. I feel so out of control and in a total state of chaos when I am not praying. I need to make time for my devotional time more. It is so hard trying to balance everything but I do need to fit it in.

6. If you are blessed with children, remember they are part of the family not the center of the family.

This is so true. You have to make time for your spouse, for yourself and your spiritual life. I am still working on this. My hubby and I are actually going away for two nights this year. We have NEVER done this but we so need it. We love our girls but our time together is so important too. Kids can sense when there is peace or when there is strife. By placing your kids as the center, you are going to be let down when they spread their wings and fly one day. Your whole world cannot revolve around your children. They do not need that pressure and neither do you!

7. How are you doing with your promises?

What kinds of promises did you make yourself when you first became a parent? Are you keeping those or putting them by the way side?

8. Joy comes from God and not our circumstances.

We need to praise you God no matter what we are going through. Hannah did this and so did Job.

9. God is Holy and great regardless of our circumstances.

10. The Lord defends the weak.

God sees your struggles just as he did with Hannah.

11. God can be trusted in all things.

12. Mother’s have a great prophetic gift.

We have this ability to shape our children’s lives. In the prayer Hannah prayed she spoke of a king long before God allowed a king to rule over Israel. Sometimes we have sense about something or God has spoken something to us that is not in any book or doctor.

One thing that really struck me was the guilt or worry some moms face. I do too. “Did I do enough as a mom?” ” Did my child go to sleep sad, angry, lonely?”

There is also so much pressure to put them in activities to build their skills and character. Am I putting them in the right one? Sometimes I wish I could do more but we just don’t have the financial means to do so.

I have started watching this show Tori and Dean and I love it. I think because they do love each other and their kids and it shows. They are just like my family minus the money. Tori is so much like me and these moms. Her husband just tries things but Tori is constantly checking to make sure they are okay or give a reminder to her husband. I am the same way. I tend to be more cautious where as my husband says let them try or go for it. This is how they learn. This is very true but I am still a mom. I think about my kids even while I am sleeping. Are they cold? Are they scared? Do they feel okay?

It is nice to know our pastor, other moms and even Hollywood stars have the same issues I do as a mom. I hope this encourages you today that WE are not alone. We all just want to be the greatest mom on earth. While we may not feel that way sometimes, our kids would say otherwise!

Happy Mother’s Day! Eight years ago Monday my beautiful princess made me a mother and I am honored to share this special weekend with her. I pray that all of you will take a little time for yourselves and enjoy the blessings that God has given you! I am twice blessed because my little peanut graced us with her presence right after my 29th birthday so I have to say I love my girls!!

This scripture is very appropriate for this day. I am striving to be a proverbs 31 woman!

Proverbs 31:10 – 31

10[c] A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

15 She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.

16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.

19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.

21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

I thought this was a great interview. I think some of the denial of having all of her children has worn off. I loved Oprah because she could keep Nadia focused. Sometimes she tends to continue talking and repeating herself so I thought that was good. I can tell she is a passionate mom but how are her kids coping? It seemed like mass chaos from the video I was watching. I pray that she can continue to support them and care for them. I think having Michelle from 19 kids and counting might be a beneficial mentor. I think a schedule would be beneficial. I cannot imagine staying sane without my schedule. I pray they will all be okay. There is a lot of work left to do. I think I did see a different side to her and I think the interview will help her image. I cannot even imagine what all of them must be going through.